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American Dream

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American Dream
American Dream
Definition: The American Dream may mean different things to different people, but the basic idea is that anybody can achieve anything, no matter how great the odds are against him or her. The American Dream is an idea which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work and that all people have the potential to live happy, successful lives. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the Declaration of Independence which proclaims that “all men are created equal” and that they are “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights” including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. Previously: The idea of an American Dream is older than the United states, dating back to the 1600s, when people began to come up with all sorts of hopes and aspirations for the new and largely unexplored continent. Many of these dreams focused on owning land and establishing prosperous business which would theoretically generate happiness and some people also incorporated ideals of religious freedom into their American Dreams. Nowadays: The ethos today simply indicates the ability, through participation in the society and economy, for everyone to achieve prosperity. According to the dream, this includes the opportunity for one's children to grow up and receive a good education and career without artificial barriers. Components: Many people believe that the structure of American society belies the idealistic goal of the American Dream, pointing to examples of inequality rooted in class, race, and ethnic origin which suggest that the American Dream is not attainable for all. It referenced the need to fight for what you believe in, show love to the things you care about, and that work is a vital part of life. Pursuit of happiness became central to the AD.

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